Patreon: An Ode to Chattanooga’s City Cafe

Let's rekindle some feelings for the low-key underrated staple of SCI weekend.

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This weekend brought with it some heavy feelings. It would’ve been the 2020 Scenic City Invitational. We should be finally heading home after a weekend of the Southeast’s biggest wrestling event – hung over and yearning for a healthy meal and a good night’s rest. Instead, the weekend just went by as they’ve been going by for the last several months. Maybe next year, we’ll get back at it. But, for the time being, I’d like to use this opportunity to pay homage to one of the most beloved aspects of SCI weekend in Chattanooga: the City Cafe. 

For those of you who have been around since the early days of our foray into indie wrestling, you know that City Cafe content is almost always just as popular as the actual wrestling content that we produce. And, for good reason. 

I can’t describe this place. 

They have a menu unlike any other spot in the region (in my experience, anyway). Having spent a lot of time in New Jersey, I can honestly say it’s the closest thing to a real traditional Jersey diner that we have anywhere down here in Tennessee. You can get pancakes smothered in about a pound of whipped cream. You can get a burger, an omelette, chili, a mountain of tater tots – just about anything you can think of. 

But, the City Cafe’s specialty is unquestionably the cakes – they will cut you a slice that weighs as much as your whole ass left leg. And, it will be nothing short of heaven on Earth in your mouth. Personally, any of their cheesecakes will do the trick for me. 

Is the food really all that good? No. But, it’s like in wrestling when certain venues have a certain aura about them. Magic happens in that City Cafe located in the Best Western Heritage Inn. It’s the start of a good day. It’s the the end of a very long shenanigan-laden evening. I’ve had so many memorable moments and conversations in that place. One time, someone dared me to pour my Heineken all over a piece of bread and eat it, so I did it….if that gives you any indication as to how special this place is. 

It being 24/7 certainly helps its aura. I’ve been in there alone at 3AM with a patty melt and a mound of tater tots to myself. It was quite the experience – getting to collect my thoughts a bit. I’ve been there first thing in the morning, checking in with Papa Hales and getting his thoughts on SCI Prom and what have you. Though the actual SCI wrasslin’ event may be the reason we’re all there, the camaraderie of the City Cafe is what keeps us coming back. Pour one out for SCI 2020.

Take a look for yourself and check out some good good City Cafe action

Happy trails until we meet again, my old friend. 

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley

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